Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King

Evocative photo-and-oil-paint collages and a narrative that reads like a series of bluesy prose poems distinguish the late Christensen’s atmospheric study of the early life of Elvis Presley. After teaching himself guitar and moving to Memphis in 1948, a nerve-wracked Elvis leaves his shy childhood behind and finally gains attention in 1954 after performing “That’s All Right”— “ragged, raw Delta blues, with bits of country/ and moments of gospel”—at Sun Records. There’s a subdued energy to both Christensen’s writing and loose, sketchy artwork, one that conjures the simmering potential of a singer before he catapulted into fame. Ages 6–9. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Apr.)